Car-coupling



- (No Model.)

' W. METGALF.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 397,017. Patented Jan. 29, 1889.

21mm M7072 lhngnpher, Washington. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM METCALF, OF LAKE, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,017, dated January 29, 1889.

Application filed May 25, 1888. Serial No. 275,087. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ME'IOALF, a citizen of the United States, residing at the town of Lake, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a cetain new and useful Improvement in Car- Couplers, which is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a construction embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a sectional view of the same, taken 011 the line 1 1 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a front elevation; Fig. l, a view of the coupler detached, and Fig. 5 a side elevation showing a modification.

Like letters refer to like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

My invention relates to car-couplings, and more particularly that class known as automatic couplings.

My present invention is in the nature of an improvement upon that set forth in Letters Patent No. 365,270, granted to me June 21, 1887. In the construction shown in said Letters Patent no particular or special provision is made for the coupling of cars wherein the draw-bars to be coupled stand at different heights.

It is the object of my present invention to remedy this defect; and to this end my invention consists in certain novel features which Iwill now proceed to describe, and will then particularly point out in the claims.

In the drawings, in which I have shown my present im'ention practically carried out in one form, A represents the body of a railway-car, B the longitudinal sills thereof, and (l the transverse sill at the end of the car.

D represents the draw-banwhich is mounted between the sills B and supported in the usual manner. This draw-baris free to move longitudinally to a limited extent, as is usual, and is provided at its rear end with the usual spring mechanism, E, to take up the traction al strain and permit the draw-bar to act as a buffer.

The particular manner of mounting the draw-bar forms no part of my present invention, the construction shown being simply an illustration of one manner in which it may be effected. The head D of the draw-bar is of considerable vertical height and is provided in its front face with a series of flaring months or jaws, (1, arranged the one above the other. In the present instance I have shown three of these months, although it is obvious that the number may be varied as desired. The head of the draw-bar is recessed, as shown at D to receive the coupler F, and in the side walls of this recess there are formed lateral guiding-grooves cl, extending rearward from each mouth (1 and serving to guidethe link during the act of coupling. The coupler F is free to move verticallyin the recess D in the head of the draw-bar and is provided with an enlarged head, F, which serves not only to limit the downward motion of the coupler, but also to cover and protect the recess in the draw-bar and prevent the entrance of dust, snow, or the like. The front edge of the coupler is provided with a series of hooks, F corresponding in number and location to the months (I of the draw-bar. Each hook extends downward and rearward, its front surface,f, being curved or inclined, as shown, so that when the coupler is in its lowest or normal position the said incline forms practically a continuation of the upper-inclined wall of the corresponding mouth (Z of the drai -bar.

A recess, f", is formed in the coupler above and in the rear of the termination of each hook F, as clearly shown in the several figures of the drawings, said recess being of slightly larger dimensions than that portion of the link which is intended to he received therein. Below the said hook and recess the body of the coupler is carried forward, shown at thus forming an incline which is normally below the month of the draw-bar at its forward end, the said incline extending from this point upward and rearward until it merges with the rear wall of the recess f. The coupler is held normallyin its lowest position either by gravity, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, by its own weight, or through the medium of a suitable spring. This latter construction is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, in which the coupleris provided with a downwardly-extending shank, G, threaded at its lower end to receive a nut, g. A spring, G, coiled around said shank and bearing against the nut and the under side of the draw-bar, serves to draw the coupler downtact with the inclined lront surta o descends to its original position.

55 hook l of the coupler.

60 to detach the ear.

ward and hold it normally in its lowest position. Any suitable means may be employed to lift the coupler, either that shown in my former Letters Patent hereinbefore referred 5 to or any other suitable construction for the purpose. This mechanism forms no part of my present invention, and l therefore have not shown the same.

H represents the mupling-link, which is IO preferably constructed as in my former Lets ters Patent hercinbefore referred to, although any suitable form of link may be employed.

The projecting lower end of the coupler li is provided with a transverse pin or law which, by striking against the under side of the draw-bar, serves to limit the upward motion of the coupler and prevent its being li lted too far.

The operation is aslollows: \Yhen the coup- 1 ler is in its normal position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the hooks F are opposite their e( ir1'es )onding months I]. Since the draw-bars to be coupled may vary in height, owing to the various causes which tend to produce this result, the couplingdink H will enter that one of the months (7 which is at the right height to receive the same.

The flaring walls of the mouth guide the end o of the link into the lateral grooves fl, and as in conee, f, of that hook A which is in line with the mouth which the link has entered.

it com the link, enters the same to render this downward movement of the coupler positive I employ the incline f against which the link strikes, and by hearing against the same as i t moves rearward forces the coupler positively downwardnvhile at the same time the said incline serves to guide the link positively into the recess f. i

The parts are then in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, with the link resting in the reeessf and in engagement with the ln uncoupling it is only necessary to raise the coupler F through the medium of the mechanism provided for that purpose until the link is clear of the hook,when the link maybe readily withdrawn 1 When the spring As the link 1 35 advances farther into the draw-bar, it will The link then passes to the rear ol the hook I and enters the re- This lat- It is obvious that various modifications in the details of construction may bemade with out departing from the principle of my invention, and I therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting myself strictly to the preeise details hereinbefm-e described, and shown in the drawin l'l'aving thus deseri bed my inventio11,whatl claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isp 1. In a (air-coup]ing, the tiiftHV-llill' provided with a vertical recess and having a vertical series of months comnumieatin therewith, in combination with the coupler arrangi-al in said recess and. capal'ile oi. direct vertical movement therein parallel to the face 01' thedrawbar, said coupler being provided wit-h a series of downward and rearward extending hooks eorrespoluling in number to the mouths and arranged at distances correspomling to the d istan ees wh ieh separate the mouths, and with a corres 'ioin'ling series of downward and .l'orward inclines to the rear ol. and below said hooks, the relative arrangement being such that in coupling the link lirst strikesthehook to raise the coupler and then the incline to depress the coupler, substantially as and [or t the purposes specified.

2. In a ear-coupling,the dmw-barpro'vhled with a vertical recess, a vertical series of mouths communicating therewith, and lateral guiding grooves extending rearward. from each month, in combination with the coupler arranged in said recess and capable of direct ,vertical. movement therein parallel to the face ot. the draw-bar, the said coupler being provided with a series of downward and rearward extending hooks corresponding in number to the mouths and arranged at a distance apart equal to the distance separating said mouths, and with a corresponding series of downward and forward inclines to the rear of and below said hooks, the relative arrange nient being such that in coupling th elink first strikes the hook to raise the coupler and then the incline to depress the coupler, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

\VILLIAM METCALF.

Ni tn esses:

IRVINE MILLER, Anmn M. llnsr. 

